Deck 1: Thinking About Communication: Definitions, Models, and Ethics

Question 1

Communication is defined as

A) a linear process in which an individual employs language to send a message
B) a social process in which individuals employ symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment
C) an interactional process in which two or more people use concrete symbols to establish meaning in an interaction
D) an ethical process in which individuals employ language in their environment

Answer 1

a social process in which individuals employ symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment

Question 2

Shannon and Weaver describe the communication process

A) as linear
B) using a sports analogy
C) as transactional
D) as something that is influenced by a person's field of experience

Answer 2

as linear

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a type of noise associated with the linear model of communication?

A) semantic
B) acoustic
C) psychological
D) physical

Answer 3

acoustic

Question 4

The interactional model of communication

A) places a great deal of emphasis on feedback in communication
B) is widely accepted as the ideal model of communication
C) was the result of the work of the Palo Alto Team
D) underscores the simultaneous sending and receiving of messages in a communication episode

Question 5

The phrase "one cannot not communicate" is related to

A) field of experience
B) the transactional model of communication
C) the dark side of communication
D) the intentionality debate

Question 6

From a communication perspective, ethical issues surface

A) only when a politician argues for her/his position
B) when a receiver fails to properly interpret a message
C) whenever messages potentially influence people
D) when physical noise interferes with the transmission of a message

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT associated with a person's field of experience?

A) a person's culture
B) a person's past experience
C) a person's communication environment
D) a person's heredity

Question 8

Because communication is viewed as transactional,

A) it is an ongoing process
B) senders and receivers are mutually responsible for the effectiveness of communication
C) communication is influenced by the sender's and receiver's field of experience
D) all of these

Question 9

If you interpret silence and avoidance of eye contact as a form of communication, you are agreeing with the research findings of

A) Aristotle
B) Shannon and Weaver
C) the Palo Alto team
D) Walter Maurer

Question 10

Which of the following influences the communication environment?

A) time
B) place
C) historical period
D) all of these

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT true of feedback, as portrayed in the interactional model?

A) Feedback is always intentional.
B) Feedback is a receiver's response to a message.
C) Feedback may be verbal or nonverbal.
D) Feedback helps communicators know whether their message is understood.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT true of symbols?

A) They are arbitrary.
B) They are ambiguous.
C) They are abstract.
D) They are only verbal in nature.

Question 13

Referring to communication as a process emphasizes the fact that communication is

A) comprised of verbal and nonverbal symbols
B) fraught with ethical considerations
C) an ongoing, dynamic, and unending occurrence
D) affected by the field of experience of the speakers

Question 14

All of the following are ethical strategies to consider when reading communication theory (Anderson & Ross, 2002), EXCEPT

A) Remain open to being persuaded by the statements of others.
B) Be intolerant of contradiction and ambiguity.
C) Evaluate knowledge claims against personal experience.
D) Accept that multiple perspectives on reality are held as valid by different people.

Question 15

_______ refers to Aristotle's idea that a person's moral virtue stands between two vices.

A) Communication ethics
B) Judeo-Christian ethic
C) The boomerang effect
D) The Golden Mean

Question 16

It is important to understand communication theory

A) to help you make sense of your personal experiences
B) in order to deceive others with your communication
C) so you can have perceived power over others
D) if you are to put people in their "place"

Question 17

According to the transactional model, meaning

A) is built by both people in an interaction
B) is shared by all people, at all times
C) is unaffected by one's field of experience
D) is static regardless of context

Question 18

"A source sends a message to a receiver through a channel" is associated with which of the following communication models?

A) the transactional model
B) Frank Dance's communication helix
C) the linear model
D) Aristotle's "Golden Mean"

Question 19

It is the sole responsibility of the source to communicate effectively.

Question 20

Communication can best be explained by the linear model.

Question 21

Semantic noise refers to a communicator's prejudices, biases, and predispositions toward another or the message.

Question 22

Definitions of communication are abundant and have changed substantially over the years.

Question 23

Because the communication process is so dynamic, researchers and theorists draw conclusions about communication by looking for patterns over time.

Question 24

Most people believe that it is ethical to censor the Internet.

Question 25

Buddhists believe that being moral requires one to use communication for attaining peace.

Question 26

What is the definition of communication embraced by the authors of this text? Explain this by expanding upon each of the key terms used in this definition.

Question 27

Explain the following: Communication is transactional.

Question 28

List and define the three types of noise that can interfere with the transmission of a message.

Question 29

What are symbols? Provide examples of both concrete and abstract symbols.

Question 30

How does a person's field of experience influence a communication event?

Question 31

In what ways are ethics and communication related to each other? In your answer, be sure to provide examples to support your explanation.

Question 32

Of the three models of communication discussed in Chapter 1, which do you feel does the best job of capturing the essence of the communicative process? In your answer be sure to briefly explain the model you have chosen and use specific examples to support your position.

Question 33

Discuss the value of studying and understanding communication theory. Provide at least three major arguments that support your position.